Jordan announces she won't seek re-election to TISD board

Tyler ISD board member Shirley Jordan has decided not to seek re-election to the school board.

Ms. Jordan, 67, a retired nurse, is in her second term on the board having served six years as the District 4 representative.

However, about two years ago her mother’s health started declining, forcing her and her husband to split their time between Tyler and Graham, a city more than three hours away.

“Because of my mother’s condition and me having to take care of her, I just feel like I best not” run for re-election, she said. “I don’t anticipate we’re going to be able to come back (to Tyler) and stay any time soon.”

Her decision opens up the District 4 race. This trustee district spans primarily the western side of the school district stretching from Texas Highway 110 in the north to Texas Highway 155 by Lake Palestine in the south. A small portion of the district is located between Texas Highway 155 and Old Jacksonville Highway.

Ms. Jordan said she initially decided to run out of a sense of responsibility.

“Nobody had signed up and I thought, ‘That is terrible,’” she said of her reasoning at the time. “Then I thought to myself, ‘Well, if it’s so terrible nobody else has, why haven’t I?’”

She said she has thoroughly enjoyed her service and met some really nice people.

Some of the highlights of her time on the board include hiring new principals, seeing another bond election pass, and finding good leadership for the district.

“I’ve really enjoyed it,” she said.

Single Member Districts 2 and 4 are up for election this May. The board also is expected to call a special election for Single Member District 5 to fill the unexpired term created when Brad Spradlin resigned in December.